Dominating running backs, tight ends and national title

Michigan football enters the 2023 season with perhaps its highest expectations in three decades, with back-to-back Big Ten titles and College Football Playoff appearances sparking hopes that the Wolverines can go all the way to their first national title since 1997.

But U-M winning a lot is hardly a stretch, after going 25-3 over the past two campaigns. Instead, here are three bold predictions from Free Press sports writer Tony Garcia:

Corum and Edwards put up 1,500 yards, 15 TDs — apiece

That’s right. Two players, 3,000 yards, 30 touchdowns.

Corum totaled 1,543 yards from scrimmage and 19 TDs last season in just 101⁄2 games; if all goes to plan, he could play 15 this season.

But maybe injuries or losses limit Corum to 13 games. He totaled at least 109 yards and a touchdown in each of his first eight Big Ten games, with only the regular-season finale against Ohio State — when his knee injury suffered against Illinois limited him to just two carries.

If he can repeat that, it’s a pace for 1,417 yards and 13 touchdowns — another 83 yards and two scores shouldn’t be too hard to find.

Donovan Edwards, meanwhile, piled up 1,091 yards from scrimmage and nine TDs in just 11 games, at least half of which he was in a backup role. He also missed time early with a partially torn patella tendon and had a broken thumb for his final three games; give him 15 healthy games at that pace or better, and he comes in at 1,487 yards and 12 TDs — again, not far off a 1,500/15 total.

This is Jim Harbaugh’s last season in Ann Arbor

Harbaugh has considered leaving before.

On National Signing Day in February 2022, he was in Minneapolis interviewing for the Minnesota Vikings’ top job with the Minnesota Vikings. This past winter, he had conversations with both the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers before opting to to return.

No matter how much he returns from his NFL flirtations singing the praises of his alma mater — and this summer brought the most fervent hallelujahs so far — this cycle can only last so long.

Also, U-M may have as many as 20 players drafted next spring, in Harbaugh’s own estimation. A talent drain like that — no matter how well the Wolverines have recruited recently — will put a damper in another run at a national championship. This season may be as good as it gets.

Oh, and that’s without mentioning the punishment looming for one Level I and four Level II violations alleged by the NCAA. U-M’s threegame suspension is no guarantee college football’s governing body doesn’t have more waiting for him. Do you think Harbaugh wants to sit around and wait for the NCAA to make an example out of him?

Michigan wins the national championship

A bold take? Maybe not. But I believe this is the year the Wolverines are champions again.

J.J. McCarthy is legitimately one of the top quarterbacks in America. He’s behind arguably the best line in the nation and complemented by arguably the best backfield in the country.

On defense, U-M has a handful of future NFL picks on its line, from 308-pound Kris Jenkins to matchup problems Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Jaylen Harrell, Braiden McGregor, Derrick Moore and Josaiah Stewart.

Look, the expectations are enormous this season. But the Wolverines appear to be doing a good job of focusing on one game at a time. Dozens have said this year’s focus is on being where their feet are, rather than looking too far ahead. As long as they do that, U-M fans will have plenty of time to look toward a return to the top.